Chapter Two

"Can I come in?" asked Todd.

Marty moved aside, allowing Todd to enter her living room. She took a plush chair across from him, a stunned expression on her face. She knew him! He wasn't just some stranger. He was someone from her past!

"Are you okay?" Todd questioned, seeming concerned by her deafening silence.

"I know you. From college," she managed to murmur. "I used to live in Llanview several years ago."

Todd tensed. He couldn't believe that this woman was THAT Marty Saybrooke, the renowned party-girl. They had shared some drinks one night while in college ... and that is not ALL they had shared.

"I remember," he said quietly. "We had a one-night-stand, one hot and steamy night."

"Yeah, just one night... because the next morning, you were gone," she stated with a hint of accusation coming through in her tone of voice.

"I am sorry, but I am not the same guy you knew back then. I've changed."

"Really?"

"Yes. After college, I got married... became a father. I am also a multi-millionaire."

"You're married? You have kids?"

Todd shook his head. "No, not anymore. I divorced my wife. Not long after, there was an accident. My ex and my two kids died."

Marty could see the deep sorrow in his hazel eyes. So much pain; so much suffering. She understood it all too well. "I lost my son," she answered. "He was only seven."

"That's how old my daughter was; Starr was seven. She and my three year old son, Jack - they were killed instantly in the crash. Blair, my ex, held on for a couple of days, but eventually, she passed away, too."

"I'm so sorry," Marty said sincerely. "Wh- why are you here?"

Marty's face was lined with worry. Was he really Kynleigh's biological father? That information was supposed to be held in strict confidence, but she was aware that there had been a recent security breach in the clinic's private information. He could be telling the truth. What if he wanted Kynleigh? He had lost his other kids. What if he wanted to take her little girl? Could she fight a multi-millionaire?

"It's about the baby. You had a little girl?"

"Yes, I did, but how did you...?" Marty asked with great unease.

Todd interrupted. "I had to do a little detective work. I found your file. You are patient 724. I was able to discern from reading your file that you went through an IVF procedure and you conceived a child. I was your donor."

"Is there any way you can prove all of this?"

Todd reached into his pocket, withdrawing a couple of folded pages he had photocopied directly from her file. She looked it over in confusion, not really sure what it all meant and if he was in fact telling the truth.

"Listen to me; I will consent to a DNA test. Whatever it is you want me to do," he stated. "I just want to see her. Where is... the baby?"

"Her name is Kynleigh," Marty said softly. "And she's sound asleep, taking her afternoon nap."

"Kynleigh," said Todd, repeating the baby's name. He had a daughter and her name was Kynleigh! Did she look like his precious Starr?

"What is it you want?" Marty questioned. "I won't let anyone take Kynleigh from me. I never meant to be her mother. My sister Michelle was going to raise her, but she died on the night that Kynleigh was born. Ever since I lost my sister, I have loved that little girl. She is mine."

"I'm sorry about your sister. When was Kynleigh born?"

"She will be one year old on June 17th."

Todd's eyes grew huge when Marty told him the baby's birthdate. "That's the same night my kids and my ex-wife died in that terrible car crash."

"My sister died in a car accident that night, too," Marty said as a shiver slid down her spine. "She was on her way back from the hospital on Highway 79."

"She crashed into Blair's car..." Todd said, seeming stunned as it all sunk in. On the same night his kids had died, Marty had given birth to Kynleigh. It was all so surreal. How could any of this be real?

"Michelle wanted a baby, but her husband was sterile due to long-term cancer treatments. Now Michelle and my brother-in-law are dead. It's just me and Kynleigh. She's ALL I have left."

"Marty, please, let me be a part of her life. I'd love to meet her," Todd implored.

"I barely even know you!" Marty argued. "Yeah, we had a little... FLING... whatever you want to call it when we were in college, but I don't KNOW you. I haven't seen you in years. I didn't know you were a millionaire... or that you..."

"Look, I hardly know you either, but we are parents. We share a child, a baby girl I haven't even met yet. Please, Marty, give me a chance."

Not realizing it, their voices had gotten louder as the conversation had become intense and heated. Now Kynleigh was awake and she was crying mournfully. Marty's mothering instincts took over. She had to tend to her child.

"Just go," she said as she stood up. "I am not ready to deal with any of this. It's just too much."

"You said it yourself - you and Kynleigh are all alone. You need me, Marty. I will help you care for Kynleigh. I just want to see my baby girl."

Marty couldn't take his pleading any longer, nor his puppy-dog eyes. She threw up her hands in surrender. "Okay, you can meet her, but I am not making any promises, Todd. She's my daughter - MINE. When you donated your sperm, you didn't intend to become a father, so..."

He interrupted her. "You didn't intend to become a mother either when you went through the IVF, but here we are."

She rolled her eyes, denying that he just made a good point. Neither of them had signed up for parenthood, but Kynleigh was in definite need of love and nurturing. Right now the baby was crying fitfully in her crib, so Marty rushed down the hallway to get her.

She lifted the precious child into her arms, kissing away her tears. "Mommy's here, sweetie. Mommy's here," Marty crooned to her daughter.

"Daddy's here, too," Todd said as he stood a few paces behind her, getting his first glance of the precious little girl, baby Kynleigh. She favored her mother with light blonde hair and sparkling blue eyes, but her hair was as straight as a pin. In contrast Marty's hair was a mass of thick, golden, cascading curls. He remembered running his fingers through those curls as he gazed into her eyes that magical night when they had their hot little "fling" when they were in college.

Marty looked at him, hearing his words. He was gazing at she and Kynleigh possessively as if they had already become a family.

"Todd, I can't let you..." Marty started to argue, but Kynleigh suddenly wasn't crying anymore. She was calm and staring at Todd in curiosity. Todd smiled at her. He had a way with kids, and this one was particularly special. She was his daughter.

"Hi, Kynleigh. Nice to meet you. I am your daddy."

Then Kynleigh did something Marty had never expected. She reached out her tiny little arms toward Todd, her daddy.